The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-02-03
EARLY OHIO DAYS.
The Marietta Pioneers and Their
Descendants.
Romance Of the Pretty Daughter Of OhioS
First Governor-The First Sheriff In Ohie
And His Early Advsntures.

The lineal descendants Of the pioneers that
came to Marietta and made the first settlement
Of Ohio, In 11SS Gun be traced readily to this
generation, ond It Is matter OF very general
interest to know that many OF these old families
have ut the present time representatives who
reflect distinguished credit upon their founders.
The hardy qualities OF brain and body that
marked the leaders among the early settlers Of
Ohio have been transmitted to succeeding gen.
crations, and nothing has been lost in the de-
scent.
In the late war there were four distinguished
Generals upon the Union side who trace their
lines back to some Of the families that came TO
Marietta before 1890 Two Generals who are
descended from the pioneers are Don Carlos
Buell. and Irwin Mcdowell. The other two are
Generals Pope and Backus. Mcdowell was Q
descendant Of Colonel Abner Lord, and there
are great many we'll known persons now living
who had Mr.. Lord for an ancestor. e. r. An
drews, the Washington artist, Is one whom re-
coll, and there Is D prominent family in Colum-
bus that belongs to this Same branch Of the Lord
descendants.
Mrs. J. B. Foraker, the wife Of the present
Governor Of Ohio, was Miss Julia Bundy, Of
jackson County and ono Of her greatgrand.
parents came to Ohio IN the Western Maynower
that bore the first settlers here, or few months
later, with o second party Of pioneers. The con-
neotion with the pioneers IL on her mothers
side, the maternal ancestor having been Cap
tain William Jones, q soldier Of the Revolution.
Another well-known descendant Of Colonel
Abner Lord, is Prof Tappan, the State School
Commissioners elect. One Of Colonel Lords
daughters married Judge Benjamin Tappan, Of
Steubenville, who was one of the U. s. Senators
from Ohio Colonel Abner Lord was Connec-
ticut man, and he lived In an oblong frame
house, near the station of the Marietta and Gin
cinnati railroad, which Is now used, In part, for
hotel
nra - tho ,,,o.t rorsr,o,o,. Ac,,r>. L. %ha
early history Of Ohio was that Of Colonel Eb-
enezor Sproat. He was the first sherih in
Ohio, and his commanding figure led the for.
NAL and solemn procession that marched to
open the first court in the Northwest Territory.
DR.. Andrews, Of Mari eta, has recently dis
came to Ohio. In Rhode Island he WIS known
as Sprout, and there are old papers extant
signed by him in that way. Why he altered tho
spelling q his name is not known, but II IL cer-
tnin that he did SO.
There used to be . story floating about
among the old people in Washington County
that the Indians, favorably impressed by the
handsome physique Of Sproat, gave him the
name Of Hetuck, or Big Buckeye, and that
from this circumstance the name Of Buckeye
was gradually applied to oil residents Of Ohio.
Colonel Sproat was the physical hero Of early
times and there is small doubt that he COM
mandcd the hearty admiration Of the hunters
anu luuluns. 11c WsS Dix lcct IOuE incnoS IN
height
He was native OF Massachusetts,, born In
1852, and was man Of some education, an en-
gineer by profession. At the beginning Of the
war Of the Revolution he was given the COM
mand Of q company, and he speedily rose to
the first place in his regiment. II is said that
he was the tallest man and strictest discipline
rian in the brigade At the close of the war he
removed to Providence and married Cathsrine
Whipple, the daughter Of the blun, quaint old
naval offlcer who has been mentioned in these
sketches. After his marriage Sproat engaged
in business, but war had united him for the
pursuits Of peace, and he very promptly lost
his own money and all that his wife brought
to him. In 1851 he was made one Of the sur
veyors OF the Ohio Company, and in tho fall Of
that year led o party Of men to Simrell's Ferry,
near Pittsburgh, where he superintended the
building of the Mayfiower. Colonel SproAt was
employed rs o surveyor Of the Ohio Company
till 17si, when the Indian war gave him moro
congenial occupation. He held tho position Of
High Sheriff. as It was then called, under Gov
ernor st. Clair for fourteen years, and no sheriff
Of Ohio or other State has given TO the once
more dignity and form. He had great respect
for the once and always carried . sword a. the
proper emblem of his position.
Colonel Sproat was friend Of General Wash
ington and an acquaintance Of Lafayette. He
died suddenly In 1906 His daughter was mar
ried to Solomon Sibley, who became one Of the
prominent mon in the early days Of Minnesota.
The first Governor Of the Northwest Territory
was General Arthur st. Clair. He was born in
Scotland In 1734, joined the British Army and
was sent TO America 10 fight in the French war.
He was present ut the storming Of Quebec.